Lucky me. Matthew McConaughey was the keynote speaker at the Association for Training and Development (ATD) Conference in New Orleans in May 2024. He shared his experience as an actor turned director, transitioning from sole contributor to empowering leader. As he spoke, I realized many similarities to the executives and entrepreneurs we work with at Align. Regardless of field or industry, leaders who set aside their egos to focus on a desired outcome are the leaders people want to follow.
I hope his nuggets of wisdom inspire you, too.
Instilling a Sense of Ownership in Others
McConaughey learned to delegate decision-making to the writers on movie sets and trust their competency and efficiency. His delegation boosted their confidence and enhanced their sense of ownership in the script and production. He believes one person can’t control everything and that delegation allows you to “get over yourself” by empowering others.
Cultivating Collective Success
Being in the spotlight left McConaughey longing for a deeper connection with his work and those around him, so he transitioned his career to focus more on directing and less on acting. He found himself responsible for guiding and inspiring others toward a common goal, which forced his mindset shift that successful leadership isn’t about personal acclaim but cultivating collective success.
He said, “True success lies in empowering others and letting every team member know their contributions are pivotal to a project’s success.”
